QIO News Posts
What Can We Do to Beat the Flu?
Like clockwork, the flu virus shows up each October, making millions of people miserable until it loses steam sometime in May. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also may have...
New Data Show Antibiotic Use in U.S. Hospitals Is Still Too High
Antibiotic resistance – when bacteria stop responding to the drugs designed to kill them – is a healthcare “hot topic” and possibly the most significant infectious disease threat we currently face. The Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine...
Celebrate World Heart Day – September 29
The World Heart Federation (WHF) recognizes World Heart Day on September 29 to increase awareness about heart disease and stroke, the world’s leading causes of death, which claims 17.3 million lives each year. The observance promotes preventive measures that reduce...
Hospitals and Communities Take Bigger Role to Help Reduce Readmissions
On September 6, MedCityNews reported that hospitals and community groups are working to improve transitions of older patients when they are discharged from a hospital by strengthening communication with doctors and tracking them across health systems. Why? A lack of...
Sepsis Awareness Month. Show Your Support.
The CDC’s recent Vital Signs report found that 7 in 10 patients with sepsis had recently interacted with healthcare providers or had chronic diseases requiring frequent medical care. These healthcare encounters can be opportunities for healthcare providers to prevent,...
CMS Blue Button: Tool for Healthcare Data Access
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is embracing innovation and taking advantage of technology to fuel changes that will lead to better care, smarter spending and a healthier America. That was the key message from the second annual CMS IT...
Healthy Aging Month: Resources For Aging Well
Healthy Aging Month® is designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. The observance encourages community events that provide inspiration and practical ideas for adults over the age of 50 to improve their physical, social, mental and...
HHQI Best Practice Intervention Packages: Underserved Populations & More
The Home Health Quality Improvement Best Practice Intervention Packages (BPIPs) offer patient and clinician resources, videos and tools on a wide variety of clinical, safety and health-related topics. We want to draw attention to the BPIP for Underserved Populations...
Opioid Crisis: Local Efforts and The Surgeon General’s Call to Action
Great Plains QIN was recently awarded a Special Innovation Project (SIP) focused on the prevention of inappropriate opioid prescribing practices and promotion of alternative, consumer-driven approaches to managing both chronic and acute pain. Kansas communities will...
Preparing for Conversations about Medical Errors
On August 18, USA Today reported hospitals like MedStar Georgetown University Hospital are using AHRQ’s recently released toolkit to be more transparent in communicating medical errors.The toolkit details the “Communication and Optimal Resolution” process, which...